President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council stressed on Tuesday the urgent need to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue. The high-ranking EU officials discussed the Cyprus problem in Brussels with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that Turkey is committed to do its utmost in order to have progress at the talks for a Cyprus settlement.
Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem will have a positive outcome on Turkey’s aspirations to join the EU.
In a joint press conference following the talks, Van Rompuy stressed the need to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue , adding that this will benefit all parties. He also encouraged all interested parties to resume the negotiations the soonest.
EC President Barroso in his statements noted that a solution to the Cyprus issue would have a positive result on the EU-Turkey relations, adding that he has conveyed this message to the Cyprus political parties as well.
“We also agreed on the urgent need to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus issue. This is surely to our common interest, and a decisive move in this field would no doubt also be conducive to progress in Turkey`s wider relations with the European Union. Progress in this matter is of fundamental importance. This is a message that we have been conveying also to the parties in Cyprus”, he underlined.
The Turkish Premier said that Turkey is committed to proceed in the right direction and do its utmost so that there is progress.
“We will continue in this direction with Mr. Anastasiades (the President of Cyprus) , hoping that there will be a positive approach on behalf of ‘southern Cyprus’, because this would be beneficial for all, for Cyprus, for Turkey as an EU candidate country”, he said.
Efforts are currently underway with a view to achieve an agreement between the two communities on a joint communiqué that will pave the way for the resumption of UN-led negotiations on the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of the island’s territory.
Referring to Turkey’s EU course, Herman Van Rompuy said that there was progress in 2013 with the opening of a chapter in the accession talks , hoping that this momentum will continue in order for the country to become a full member.
As regards the situation in Turkey, the President of the European Council said that he asked Turkey to show respect in the EU criteria, the rule of law and the distinction of powers.
On his behalf, EC President Barroso said that EU and Turkey are close allies and it is absolutely critical that “we sustain and deepen our partnership, which is already so fruitful and beneficial for both sides and spans from trade and customs to political dialogue, from energy cooperation to counter-terrorism”.
He referred to a renewed momentum in the accession negotiations over the last year, the readmission agreement and a breakthrough on visa dialogue, which show both parties’ willingness to move forward.
Referring to the events in Turkey Barroso said that the Turkish Premier gave reassurances of his intention to fully respect the rule of law, the independence of judiciary and, generally speaking, the separation of powers.
“We know how challenging some of the issues that Turkey is now confronting are, but I want to state very clearly that Turkey is not alone in this, and we stand ready to support you, Prime Minister, with our experience on these matters” Barroso noted.
Barroso also said that Turkey is already a very important partner of the European Union in energy and expressed the belief that the potential to be even a much bigger hub for all this region is there and EU is very much interested in working together.
The Turkish Prime Minister also discussed with the EU top officials the situation in Turkey and the Syrian crisis.
Regarding the ongoing crisis in Syria, Barroso described it as “a terrible tragedy in slow motion”, adding that EU and Turkey agreed on the urgent need for a political solution.
“I would like to reiterate our gratitude for Turkey`s great efforts to host not only the refugees but also the European Union`s crisis response personnel, which helps us fulfill our role as the largest donor in this crisis”, he noted.
